Government (Kiribati)
=====================


     Long-form name:
         Republic of Kiribati; note - pronounced Kiribas
     Type:
         republic
     Capital:
         Tarawa
     Administrative divisions:
         3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - a new
         administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line
         Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed
         to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang,
         Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati,
         Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea,
         Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina
     Independence:
         12 July 1979 (from UK; formerly Gilbert Islands)
     Constitution:
         12 July 1979
     National holiday:
         Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
     Executive branch:
         president (Beretitenti), vice president (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti), Cabinet
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
     Judicial branch:
         Court of Appeal, High Court
     Leaders:
       Chief of State and Head of Government:
         President Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President Taomati IUTA
         (since 8 July 1991)
     Political parties and leaders:
         National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party,
         Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka
         TENTOA; note - there is no tradition of formally organized political parties
         in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because
         they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 18
     Elections:
       President:
         last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held May 1995); results - Teatao
         TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28%
       House of Assembly:
         last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held May 1995); results - percent of
         vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party
         NA
     Member of:
         ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP (associate), IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL,
         ITU, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTO
     Diplomatic representation:
         Ambassador (vacant) lives in Tarawa (Kiribati)
       US:
         the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
     Flag:
         the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising
         sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to
         represent the ocean